McLaren Brings Alternative Bodywork to Bahrain Due to Illegality Claims

McLaren Mercedes have prepared for the worst ahead of this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix, as it has emerged that the Woking based team has taken an alternative bodywork for the race. As most of you know by now, some worries were raised about the design of McLaren MP4-25's rear wing – Red Bull and Ferrari asked the FIA to look into its legality.

Additionally, the guys at Auto Motor und Sport spotted an air inlet on the left side of the upper bodywork – present on the MP4-25 during the latest test in Barcelona – that can be triggered by the driver via his knee and has a direct influence on how the air travels around the upper side of the car, towards its rear.

Both those issues will be closely investigated by the FIA technical delegate Charlie Whiting during the Thursday scrutinizing meeting ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix, when all the 2010 challengers will be closely looked into. Although the McLaren representatives insisted they have no worries about the recent illegality claims on the MP4-25, managing director Jonathan Neale revealed his team has brought a second bodywork to Bahrain.

“We're not taking a radically different package (to Bahrain) but you just never know what the stewards are going to do on the day,” said Neale during a media teleconference on Tuesday.

“We get the best advice we can from the FIA in the interests of transparency. If the stewards decide on a different course of action, though, it's still our duty to go racing. So we have a contingency, but I wouldn't put much effort into it and I'm not expecting it to be used,” added the McLaren managing director.

Whiting was initially scheduled to check the car out last Friday, but a delayed flight from Brazil made it impossible for him to arrive at Woking in time. The inspection was therefore postponed for this Thursday.